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EVS26: News Recap

admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 18:30:23 +0000

Electric vehicle enthusiasts from around the world spent 3 full days attending seminars, networking with individuals and companies and testing out the latest electric vehicle technology at EVS 26, The 26th Annual International Electric Vehicle Symposium.

This year, it was held in our hometown of sunny Los Angeles. CODA made its debut by providing test drives at the Ride, Drive & Charge event and had a booth inside in the exhibition hall.

Here’s a few articles that we found interesting to sum up the event:

KABC-TV (Los Angeles): Electric Vehicle Symposium 2012 puts future of electric cars on display

Hybrid Cars News: City of Los Angeles Presented with E-Visionary Award

New York Times: The Battery-Driven Car Just Got a Lot More Normal

USA TODAY: Next target for electric car sales: apartment dwellers

Consumer Reports: Behind the wheel of the improved Coda electric car and Wireless electric charger takes center stage at EVS26

NRDC Switchboard: Thousands Gather in Los Angeles to Move Beyond Oil to Electric-Drive

Building a Better Electric Vehicle

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:24:40 +0000

By Claire Martin, MSN Autos

Why “purpose-driven” electric cars have certain advantages over the rest of the lot.

All electric vehicles are not created equal. Some, such as the Tesla Model S and the Nissan Leaf, were built to be electric. Others, though, are retrofits — the Chevy Volt is based on the Cruze and the Ford Focus Electric is derived from its namesake gasoline car. The difference may seem like a matter of semantics, but actually, if your passengers like to have legroom or you want to toss your luggage in the trunk, it’s kind of a big deal.

Here’s what sets so-called “purpose-driven” EVs apart from the retrofits:

1. Purpose-driven electrics are more spacious. They use flat-format battery cells that are placed under the floor of the car, freeing up space for passengers and other cargo. The Tesla Model S, for example, has a trunk in the front where an engine would otherwise go, plus a hatchback big enough to accommodate a rear-facing third-row seat. By contrast, the Ford Focus Electric’s battery dominates the trunk and the Volt’s battery hogs enough room that only two passengers can fit in the back seat of the car.

2. Purpose-driven EVs handle and brake better. Placing heavy batteries underneath the floor lowers and spreads out the center of gravity, which improves braking and handling and provides a smoother ride overall. (Consider how a heavy battery in the trunk would affect a car’s handling.)

3. Most purpose-driven EVs are purely electric. The Leaf, which can go 100 miles per charge, and the new ChineseBYD e6, which gets a reported range of 186 miles, both use electric motors without back-up gasoline engines. The Volt, on the other hand, relies on a small gas engine to power a generator, which gives additional charge to the battery. Without relying on the engine, its range is just 40 miles. (However, with a full tank of gas in the range-extender, it goes 300 miles.)

4. Purpose-driven EVs aren’t necessarily more expensive. Using gasoline cars as the basis for electric vehicles has one big advantage: It’s cheaper for the manufacturer. But those savings don’t necessarily get passed on to the consumer. The Volt, in fact, is more pricey than its main competitor, the Leaf.

One exception to the purpose-driven/retrofit divide is the Coda, an electric sedan based on a 2000-model-yearMitsubishi Lancer. The California-based company has wedged the bulk of the battery underneath the floor, making this the rare non-purpose-driven EV that still has the advantages of one. Its range is 150 miles (no extra engine) and it takes just six hours to charge (half the time of the Leaf).

City of Los Angeles Presented With E-Visionary Award

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:13:35 +0000

Today at the 26th International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26), the hosting City of Los Angeles was presented with an E-Visionary award by the World Electric Vehicle Association (WEVA).

“WEVA recognizes leaders as E-Visionaries for their strong support of clean, efficient and sustainable modes of transportation, and for making electric drive a reality in the everyday lives of their citizens,” said Brian Wynne, president of WEVA and the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), the U.S. association hosting EVS26. “As an E-Visionary award recipient, Los Angeles is a prime example for other global communities to emulate.”

What is Los Angeles doing that its Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says it aims to lead the country in following?

• The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the largest municipal utility in the country, offers electric car customers rebates of up to $2,000 on home charging systems and has determined time-of-use prices for charging electric cars during off-peak hours.

• The City offers a two and a half cent per kilowatt-hour discount for off-peak hour charging.

• Los Angeles is working to educate consumers about electric drive: the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has created a toll-free phone number that customers can call for more information about electric vehicles and charging.

• The L.A. Department of Building and Safety demonstrated national leadership by developing and implementing EV-ready building codes for all new construction in Los Angeles. As of January 1, 2011, all single-family residences, multi-family dwellings, and commercial properties constructed in the City of Los Angeles will have EV-specific requirements.

Pictured: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (left) was presented the E-Visionary award today by Mac Heller of Coda Automotive on behalf of the World Electric Vehicle Association (WEVA).

Electric Vehicle Symposium 2012 puts future of electric cars on display

admin — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:25:38 +0000

By Dave Kunz, ABC7.com

The future of electric cars was on display at the annual Electric Vehicle Symposium at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Everything that runs on juice was being discussed and shown off during the exhibit held from May 6-9.

Some of the electric car brands on display included the ones everyone has heard of, like Toyota, to those trying to get a toe hold, like CODA. There was plenty of variety as well, including a shuttle van that runs on batteries and Tesla’s sleek, upcoming four-door.

Read more and watch clip here: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/car_tips&id=8651996